Perennial Hardiness Zone

Heirloom Perennials

One of my favorites, Rehmannia produces spikes of gloxinia-shaped flowers with a delicious raspberry color; the yellow throats dotted inside with carmine. The textured leaves grow in rosettes and turn deep red in fall, spreading readily by runners. Listed in a 1915 seed catalog for florists.

Shimmering sprays of silvery pink flowers open in late fall from dark mauve incurved buds. The leaves turn dark maroon as the weather turns cold, contrasting with the soft pastel blooms. A rare selection for extending the flowering season in your garden.

This antique columbine with many overlapping pointed petals was named after the granddaughter of Charles Darwin. She was a plant hybridizer, editor, mother of 6 and more! This type of columbine has flowered in spring to early summer gardens since the early 17th century in England. It is a stalwart survivor, prized for its frilly petals of rose and pale green to white petals held on many-branching strong stems. 'Nora Barlow' is an exceptionally good variety that has been given the Award of Garden Merit. Self sows into moist, rich, well-drained soils.

A native coneflower for dry gardens that blooms earlier than most, extending the summer season of these pollinator-friendly plants. Water until fully established when its tap root ensures drought tolerance.

Great spangled fritillaries, swallowtails and more will make great arcs around these showy native flowers, alighting again and again to feast on the abundant nectar in the large cone centers. Once found in abundance in Central and Eastern states into Southern New England. Grow this native purple coneflower for its immune boosting and infection fighting properties. The roots can be easily crafted into healing tinctures.

One of my favorite herbs, creeping thyme spreads quickly. When combined with other thymes and low creepers, it creates an oriental carpet of color and scent. The dark green, shiny leaves and lavender-pink flowers cascade over stone walls and containers in short order. Use in potpourri and in the kitchen.

One of our favorites, this scrambling vine has large trusses of satiny petaled opalescent pink flowers. A long-lived perennial, often found growing around old cellar holes, it was brought here by early settlers. Poisonous seeds.

This hybrid perennial foxglove originated in 1926. A winning hybrid of pink D. purpurea and yellow D. grandiflora ‘Summer King’ has ample spires of crushed strawberry red flowers, a neat, compact form and handsome foliage. It blooms early summer and is lovely with apricot calendulas and lavender larkspurs in humus rich, well-drained soils.

Once called Fraxinella or Burning Bush, gas plant was commonly grown in England in the late 16th century. I adore these plants for the glossy green, impeccable foliage and the tall wands of mauve-pink flowers accented with violet veining and long upwardly curving stamens. As the old names suggest, the volatile oils released by the ripening star-shaped seedpods can be ignited, if all atmospheric conditions are right. Patience is needed to germinate (up to 6 months) and grow these, but an extremely long lived, gorgeous shrub results. Grow in sweet, well-drained, rich soil and do not disturb the roots.

Pale pink, cup-shaped flowers with indented petals and violet veining bloom along the stalks of this cottage garden gem. The seed pods develop into little "cheese wheels"; hence, members of this family are called cheese mallow. Easy to grow, they bloom from midsummer to frost.

A wonderfully fragrant hardy woodbine that is NOT invasive and nurtures hummingbirds with the long upward-curving nectar rich blossoms, and birds with the crimson berries in fall. A disease-free reliable and free-bloomer with masses of cherry red buds that open creamy white and age to butter yellow. Blooms generously in midsummer and with moderate deadheading, into fall. Makes an excellent screen or groundcover and looks great spilling over a wall or fence but also can stay relatively compact with some pruning after flowering.

Apricot pink flower heads composed of clusters of dainty florets bloom in early to mid-summer, keeping company with lavender blue campanulas and larkspurs and scarlet Maltese Cross. A rare heirloom, given old names such as Nonesuch and Mock Sweet William, it is a hardy survivor in cottage gardens. Easy and pest free, grow in masses for the best show. This could be the ‘pale red’ variation of the traditional bright scarlet Maltese Cross that was mentioned in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine in 1794.

The round, flat flower heads of this deep pink, native flower are deliciously scented of vanilla. Their smooth, lance-shaped leaves turn glorious colors in fall and their gracefully shaped golden seedpods are a crafter's dream, and are filled with silky seeds that catch the breeze and paraglide away! March and April ship dates may ship as dormant plants.

The round, flat flower heads of this deep pink, native flower are deliciously scented of vanilla. Their smooth, lance-shaped leaves turn glorious colors in fall and their gracefully shaped golden seedpods are a crafter's dream, and are filled with silky seeds that catch the breeze and paraglide away!

The advent of summer in New England is always accompanied by the sweet scent of garden phlox in bloom. Heirloom 'Bright Eyes' is a lovely true pink with a ring of rich rose at the center of each floret. One of the best flowers to attract butterflies and hummingbirds too! Mildew resistant; provide organic, moist, yet well-drained soils. Deadhead after bloom.

Found by gardener Jeana Prewitt of Nashville, who discovered it growing mildew-free amoung many thousands of wild plants. Large clusters of sweet-scented flowers bloom midsummer to midfall and attract butterflies by the score.

The most potent pink I’ve grown, with delicate lilac to white feathery flowers that fill the air with their sweetness. Upon close inspection, the shy looking flowers reveal a wash of violet-red calyxes. A rare gem for the fragrance garden. Listed in an 1827 catalog.